Bottle seal cutter



Feb. 14, 1950' M. F. ZUBA BOTTLE SEAL CUTTER Filed May 21, 1948 0 1 7 42 5 t lfw Tim? M 3 a J 1 i TL fi B "w M Z I a Q d M By 36m Patented Feb. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to improvements in devices for quickly opening sealed bottles or jugs and is particularly useful about bars, where bottles having the usual sheet plastic seals, must be frequently opened.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which can be easily placed against the neck portion of a sealed bottle and the seal easily severed at the cork, by simple rotation of the device about the neck of the bottle, or by simply rotating the bottle, holding the device stationary.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple cutting device of the character stated, which can be manufactured and retailed at a low cost, thus making the same available for homes and other places where bottles sealed in this manner must occasionally be opened.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view, showing the device applied to the top of a bottle;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device;

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one side portion of the device.

Referring to the drawing, reference character A, denotes a bottle having a top seal B, while numeral 5 generally refers to the improved cutter for severing the seal, just under the top portion of the cork, which is covered by the seal.

The device 5 is made up of a pair of side portions, such as is shown in Figure 4, and which is constructed of a substantially straight medial portion 6 having inwardly disposed parallel spaced ears I, I, each formed with an opening 8 therein.

The medial portion 6 has a lateral offset 9, at one end and an extension III, defining a handle, while the other end of the medial portion 6 is provided with a semicircular extension I I, preferably rolled at its outer edge as at I2 for the purpose of reinforcing this end of the curved portion or jaw II.

At the upper edge of the jaw II and extending outwardly from the point where the medial portion 6 merges with the jaw II, a horizontal fin I3 is provided and this may be formed from the same sheet of metal as the remaining portion of the structure shown in Figure 4.

The edge portion of the fin or blade I3 is sharpened to provide a cutting edge It.

The ears I, I of the complemental side portions interlap as shown in Figure 2, and a bolt I5 is disposed downwardly through the registering openings 8, to thus pivotally connect these side portions together.

A coiled spring I5 convolutes the bolt I5 and the end portions ll of the spring extend laterally to engage the ofiset portions 9 of the side portions of the device to hold the jaws I I, I I in contracted positions and snugly engaging the neck portion of a bottle A over the seal B.

In the use and operation of this device, the handles II] are forced together, thus opening the jaws I I, Ii so that these jaws can be placed around the seal B of a bottle and when properly positioned and the handles I0 released, the blades I3 will pierce the seal B, just above the top of the bottle neck and under the top of the cork or other closure. The spring I6 will hold the jaws snugly against the seal B and by rotating the device on the neck of the bottle, the seal can be cut circumferentially, thus freeing the cork or other closure, so that it can be readily removed from the neck of the bottle without interference by the seal.

Obviously, this device can be constructed of metal or any other suitable material and can be manufactured at low cost and further will be positive acting and not susceptible to the ready development of defects.

While the foregoing description sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A seal cutter of the character described comprising a pair of elongated members, each of said members being constructed at one end to provide a jaw, and at its opposite end to provide a handle, ears projecting inwardly from the medial portions of said elongated members, a pivot member pivotally connecting the ears, and a seal cutting blade carried by one of the jaws, and a coiled spring on the pivot member having its end portions bearing against said elongated members to hold said jaws in close relation, said elongated members being provided with ofisets, against which the ends of the spring engage.

MICHAEL F. ZUBA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,337,158 Reed Apr. 18, 1920 1,810,631 Trump June 16, 1931 

